Shoe-button remover



0. S. ELLER.

SHOE BUTTON REMOVER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24. 1921.

1,422,947, Patented July 18, 1922.

foe/Z2???" 0 24 1620 Asfzzz r 2 was "e r p-a ORLANDO S. ELLER, 0F LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

SlIOE-BUTETON BEIFIOVER.

To all whom it may concern: y

Be it known that I, ORLANDO S. ELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Long Beach, county of Los Angeles, and State of California, have invented a new and useful Shoe-Button Remover, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for removing from leather or fabric the staples used to secure buttons therein. It is the universal practice at the present time to provide button shoes having wire staples which secure the buttons in place. These buttons are secured on the shoe by an automatic stapling machine, and various inventors have attempted to provide devices by which the staples could be quickly removed for the purpose of moving the buttons or replacing broken buttons. All such devices, which 1 have seen, are somewhat complicated and liable to get out of order. They also tend to tear the material in which the button is fastened, especially when the button is fastened in soft kid or the like.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a shoe button remover which will consist of only two parts; which will be extremely sure in its action; and which will not tear even the most delicate leather as the staple is removed.

Further objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing which is for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a shoe button and staple secured in leather or fabric which is shown in section, my device also being shown partially in section in the position it assumes near the beginning of its stroke.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing my device in the middle of its stroke.

Fig. 1 is a similar view showing my device at the end of its stroke.

Fig. 5 is a section on a plane represented by the line 55 of Fig. 4 with the parts in the position shown in that figure.

Fig. 6 is a plan view with the parts in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

In the embodiment of my invention shown, two operating members 10 and 11 are provided, these members being pivoted together upon a screw 12 and having grips Specification of Letters .Eatent. P t g; d J l 33 1922;

1921. Serial No. 430,094.

lssimilar to those usedin scissors so that the device can be readily manipulated.

Formed on the side of the device are wire cutters 1-1 similar to those used in ordinary cutting pliers. On the end of the members 10 and 11, away from the grips 13, are a pair of jaws 20 and 21 which slide by each other on either side of a common plane against which their flat sides abut. The jaw 20 in the form shown is between the observer and the'plane; the jaw 21 is beyond the plane. In other words, the jaws 20 and 21 slide by each other exactly like the blades of pair of scissors.

Formed on the jaws 20 and 21 are a pair of wedges 22 and 23, these wedges terminating in fine points which are suiiiciently small to be inserted under a staple 30 carrying a shoe button 31. The staple 30 has ends 32 which are bent under as shown in Fig. 2. The extreme ends of the jaws are provided with prongs 33 to assist in picking out small particles of staples which may be come broken off in the leather.

The method of operation is as follows:

The operator places his fingers and thumb in the grips 13 and opens the jaws 20 and 21 into a somewhat wider position than that shown in Fig. 1, placing the jaws over the button to be removed with the points of the wedges 22 and 23 under the staple 30 as shown in Fig. 2. The jaw 20 is carried on the member 10 and the jaw 21 is carried on. the member 11 so that as the grips 13 are forced together, the wedges 22 and 23 are also forced towards each other, moving of course on opposite sides of their common plane. These wedges, therefore, move into the position shown in Fig. 3 in which the staple is lifted slightly and into the po sition shown in Fig. at in which the staple is both lifted and spread.

Whenever the jaws reach the position shown in Fig. 4, flat faces 10, 11, 12 and 43 strike against and grip the staple as shown in Fig. 5. I spreading and lifting action. the turned under ends 32 of the staple are forced into the position shown in Fig. 4 and the staple may be readily removed. Qwing to the fact that the staple is lifted only a short distance before the spreading action takes place and owing further to the fact that the leather 50 of the shoe is well supported, there is no Due to the combined sitely facing Wedges, one of said Wedges being carried by one of said members and the other of said Wedges being carried by the other of said members; means for turning); said members about their pivot to force said Wedges into a staple from opposite sides of said staple; and means carried on said members for gripping a staple when it is spread. by said jaws.

In testimon whereof, l have hereunto set my hand at Long Beach, California, this let day of June 1921.

URLANDO S. ELLER. 

